Land of Wind

[Erebus]

Maboshi lifts his hands, adjusting his goggles, his orange scarf covering the bottom portion of his face. He ventured further behind the building into a shaded spot, motioning them to follow him too. Normally he would never be this forward, yet with a goal, a mission in place his timid nature had taken a back seat. Too focused on his mission to recognize that his behavior could b considered rude, forcibly pulling them into his own antics for the sake of his own curiosity.

"He promised he'd let me do it on my own."

The young star muttered under his breath as he knelt down into the sand. Having been out in the desert, the person they found was someone he had (allegedly) spotted first. He was a genin now, he was a wayfinder too! His dad was suppose to let him take lead in getting them back to the village with the Lost One. It would have been the first person that he guided and had saved as a Wayfinder of the clan. Yet, something had triggered his dad, made him intervene to speed up to the village. He had to know why.

"Alright....Tsuno? And...Seijūrō right? Yea, think that's right."

He looks up at them before he begins drawing in the sand. Despite having been on the move so swiftly to go into hiding, he had seen the quiet boy draw in the sand and had heard the other one mention his name, though the rest of what he said kind of drifted out. From the looks of it, the drawing he was doing was a quasi-map of the village from what could be seen. He makes three little dots in one area then glances up looking around. From behind his visor there is a brief bluish glow that dims almost as quickly as it had surfaced. After which he draws a star in another area on the map, the distance from it to the three dots from appearance alone seemed considerable.

"Alright, my dad should be around here, and we're right here. The plan is simple everyone!"

He clapped his hands once before looking up at them both.

"We're going to go to where he's at and follow him without being seen. Wherever he's at, the other adults are probably going to be there too, talking about what's happening. Which means we'll be able to hear what it is too!"

Despite sounding so confident the plan sounded...extremely simple minded and straight forward. Still, the map even drawn in sand was rather detailed, and there was also the matter of how he knew exactly where his dad was from here. It sounded less like guess work and more like full blown confidence, though the source of this confidence remained hidden...if it even existed at all.

"Gotta be careful though, dad will find us out quickly if we're not careful. He's one of the best Wayfinders in the clan."

As outsiders and children, there was no way they would understand what he meant as they were not members of his clan. Still, Maboshi spoke as if what he was saying was something everyone and anyone would know.

"Any questions?"

 

[Eren]

The wind carried whispers through the trees—soft, weightless murmurs that danced between branches and tugged gently at loose strands of crimson hair. The boy stood still, head tilted slightly, watching the Hokushin with a squint not of suspicion, but of curiosity. His arms folded in a dramatic flair, as if mimicking a scene from a play only he could see. There was movement in the distance. Adults—steady in posture, deliberate in stride—approached with that strange certainty only grown-ups seemed to possess. Their silhouettes, framed by the rustling of windblown leaves and shifting shadows, felt heavy with meaning. Tsuno's eyes followed them not out of necessity, but wonder. What made them so scared? What secrets did adulthood hide beneath that quiet surface? His gaze drifted sideways—slow, aimless. His body remained rooted, but his thoughts wandered. He was no longer present in the clearing but drifting somewhere intangible, where dreams form and doubt dissolves. The world around him became a canvas, the breeze his brush, the silence his ink.


Could this be the moment… when a hero's journey begins?


The idea didn’t hit him like a thunderbolt. No, it bloomed—softly, steadily—like a flower cracking through pavement. A seed of longing took hold in his chest. His expression, once blank with distraction, slowly shifted into something else. A kind of hope. He could see it—himself—standing beneath the weight of a village’s trust, arms outstretched not for praise, but to protect. A protector. A presence others looked to not with fear, but with faith. Not a warrior drenched in glory, but a hero remembered in the quiet ways. To be counted on. To matter. It was a beautiful thought. One worth chasing. But thoughts like these—dreams—are delicate things. And like all delicate things, they don’t linger forever. The Hokushin’s voice cut through the moment, even though it wasn’t sharp. A simple question, directed at the gathered youths.“Any questions?” The words pulled Tsuno back to the present like a rope yanking him from water. He blinked, once, twice—clearing the dream from his eyes. The breeze had not left. Nor had the sun. But something in him felt different now. He didn’t answer. Not yet. But his silence carried weight. The kind of weight that gathers at the start of something much bigger than anyone realizes.

He shook his head—softly, almost absently—as if to say there were no questions. Not because he understood everything, but because he was eager to play along. To belong. To step into whatever came next, even if he didn’t fully grasp it yet.

 

[ZimTheInvader]

As the group made their way through the streets of the Sand Village towards a location known only to Maboshi, the relaxed Seijūrō simply followed the goggle-clad boy, his hand nonchalantly resting within his pocket. While he followed along, he began to grow more curious about the nature of their journey right now, as all Seijūrō knew was that parents were keeping secrets from their children, and Maboshi wanted to reveal the truth they had been hiding.

The group continued on their path, Seijūrō still curious, but not really seeing a reason to question Maboshi right now, as the boy had suddenly stopped in his tracks and muttered something underneath his breath before kneeling in the sand. Maboshi wouldn't stay this way for long, it would seem, as he would quickly speak up, addressing Seijūrō and Tsuno, checking to make sure he had their names right before he continued.

"Yeah, you got it right."

Seijūrō would say, letting his new friend know he had the right name as he watched the wayfinder begin to do some rather odd and unique things, like drawing in the sand like the clown boy had. In his case, though, it seemed as though the wayfinder was drawing a map. Seijūrō would look on, impressed by the skill in which Maboshi crafted the map in the sand. Following the drawing, Maboshi would then speak to the boys again, laying out the details of their plan to locate and track the boy's father.

"I see, I like the idea. I'm pretty good at moving unnoticed. I can actually move in complete silence thanks to a technique my parents taught me. What about you two, do you guys have any skills to assist with this? 'Cause if your Dad's as good as you say, we'll need more than some quiet footsteps."

 

[LucianRedgrave]

“Any questions?”

Kuromai’s ears perked up at the sound of the nearby chatter. His tengu mask sitting firmly pressed against his face as he listened in on the trio. Only one face in particular stood out to him as fellow puppeteer the odds that they didn’t know each other was rather slim. Even if it was only in namesake alone. The two of them differed so greatly in the way they conducted themselves that it was almost impossible to ever get them confused. He sat on a sandy rooftop listening to seijuro and Maboshi both converse their options while Tsuno sat almost absent mindedly listening to the pair. He didn’t exactly want to ruin their fun but whatever it was they were about to get into he was more than eager to play along with them. Rather than introduce his actual self he sent in his puppet. Its lanky form mirroring his own in attire as it would soon drop into view behind the trio. Its form hitting the ground with practiced ease and grace alike before looking between the lot of them. Its hands held open palms facing them all as if to let them know he had no intention of stopping them. In fact had they stopped in the tracks due to suspicion Kuromai would speak with a soft tone.

“Relax, I want to help… With whatever it is we’re doing.”

There was a nervousness amidst his tone not because he himself was nervous to interact with them but with the situation. He was by no means a troublemaker and whatever they were up to seemed to be a welcomed opportunity for such a thing. The puppet shifted its weight from one foot to the other as it moved into a more relaxed posture to hopefully put the trio even more at ease. Had they taken him up on his offer for help he could be seen eagerly awaiting the details of their machinations. Amidst this however his soft tone would emerge once again offering a proper greeting rather than simply leaving it to the impromptu arrival of his to leave things cordial.

“By the way my names Kuromai, nice to meet you.”

 

[Erebus]

Maboshi stared at them, the boy who wrote his name, Tsuno seemed to have a long stare. Maboshi tilted his head as he watched him wondering if the boy was ok. 'Ack! Was it too much?! Did I go overboard?!' Maboshi began to wonder, his body stiffening as he instantly became self conscious. He began to realize he'd been single minded again, maybe he came off too pushy! He lifted the scarf around his neck a bit higher to further cover the lower portion of his face, almost like a turtle retreating into its shell.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity to the young wayfinder, Tsuno shook his head. Still, Maboshi could not breathe an air of relief. Perhaps Tsuno was simply doing this to try and not be a bother to him but really he didn't understand or...maybe he didn't even like the plan! Like a dam being broken, such thoughts began pouring into his head ceaselessly.

"I see, I like the idea."

A temporary fix, Seijūrō's words caused the negative thoughts to slow their course. Maboshi turned towards the boy, mouth still hidden by his scarf. Prepared to thank him he is nearly toppled over from the unexpected words thrown his way. Maboshi stared, and then thought for a moment. Bopping his fist into his open hand in an aha moment, "That's cool! But, I don't have anything like that I'm afraid." He confessed awkwardly. Truth be told, stealth and physical exertion weren't really his thing.

"Ah but don't worry! As long as we're careful we should be fine! Since I can find my dad without seeing him, we should be able to track him from a distance without being seen!" He nodded his head as if his words were a natural and reasonable explanation that anyone would understand. "Now lets hurry and g-"

Unexpectedly, someone had dropped in on them from behind. Maboshi spun around to face them, had they been caught before they could even truly begin?! His concerns were quelled, seeing someone that, despite the mask appeared around their age from size alone. Seeing their hands lifted up, Maboshi relaxed a little. 'So we weren't caught...whew.'

His head tilted as the strange new kid asked to tag along. Maboshi folded his arms as he mulled over the idea for a few before he marched right up to the new kid. His arms unfolded before landing softly on the new kid's shoulders in several small pats. "Sure thing Kuromai! Welcome to the team, I'm Maboshi and that's-" Turning, he moved one hand off the kid's shoulders, unaware of their true identity as he pointed from one boy to the other. "-That's Tsuno and that's Seijūrō." Proud that he had gotten their names right he moved away from Kuromai, tiptoeing to the side of the building, peeking around the corner. He seemed to look around before his head fixated on a single angle. Reaching at his side he began to lightly pat and caress the waterskin that hung there. The container was still for a moment. Unexpectedly, it had gone from being still to shaking, its soft surface rippling before its seal was forced open from inside, water flowing out, encircling Maboshi as it took on the shape of a serpent.

"Hey Suija! I need to get up there." He pointed to the top of the very building they were hiding behind. The serpent of water turned its head upwards before looking back down at the small boy. Its mouth opened up, body coiling around him, its mouth snapping shut on Maboshi's scarf. The serpent composed of water hoisted the child up, the sun's light reflecting off its water composed form. Once reaching the top of the building, the snake he had called Suija released Maboshi from his grasp, allowing the child to land on his feet. "Thanks Suija! I'll have you help me some more later on." He spoke affectionately to this strange...mass of water that seemed to understand him. The serpent's form began to dissolve and deform as the water retreated back into the waterskin that held it.

"Cmon! Hurry everyone!" He called to them as he began to trot off on the roof top.​

---

"Very well, I'll head there now." Mikaboshi's voice can be heard, having responded to someone else within a small hut. The giant of a man steps out, needing to duck down to fully exit the hut barely able to contain him. His feet leave trails in his wake as he makes his way towards the village gates. The air around him is somber, heavy. There is a journey ahead of him after having just returned. He wonders just where he is to lead those that have called him. He could only hope it wasn't to their deaths.

 

[Eren]

The child appeared absent-minded—but for good reason. He was lost in the pleasant fantasy of being worshipped and hailed as a hero by the desert villagers. It was a secret desire of his, one he clung to quietly. His expression might have been mistaken for confusion, but in truth, he was simply savoring the dream. Then, the mood shifted—like the sudden strike of a drum at a festival—when his trained eyes landed on Kuromai. Or rather, on Kuromai’s puppet. It was so finely adorned that few could spot the subtle differences between it and a living being. But he could. Of course he could. He was a puppeteer himself—one who had spent countless hours perfecting his craft. And now, before him stood another of his kind. A fellow puppeteer—something he had always longed to encounter.

“.....!!”
His face lit up with an excited expression, words failing him, but his silence spoke volumes. It painted a vivid picture of his eagerness, his curiosity, and his growing desire to befriend someone who understood the same art.

“!?.........” The Genin suddenly flinched as the Hokushin’s water pouch came into view. Startled, the child staggered back, arms in the air, fists uncurling into a dramatic gesture of surprise—one that resembled the exaggerated reactions of a mime or a clown mid-performance. Tsuno placed a hand on his chin, eyes wide with admiration as he watched the Hokushin’s technique. His mouth hung open in awe, the shape becoming more exaggerated with each passing second—though his voice remained absent, almost reverent. Sparkles practically danced in his eyes, cartoonishly bright with excitement. In that moment: He was thinking. What else could he do without giving their presence away? His puppets weren’t exactly subtle—one of them louder than a hyena on a sugar rush. Stealth wasn’t his two puppets' strong suit. But then, inspiration struck.​

"I could do what our Fifth Kazekage did."

The thought lit up in his mind like a flare in the dark, invoking the memory of Lord Gaara—a legendary figure still revered by Tsuno’s generation, even long after his passing. With a determined nod, Tsuno crouched and touched the ground, sending a wave of magnetic chakra out beneath him. His expression flickered with worry—not about the technique itself, but about whether it would draw attention. He wasn’t trying to dominate the entire terrain—just enough to craft a small platform. Within seconds, sand began to respond to his chakra, rising into a rough, floating disk beneath him. Maintaining the platform was delicate work—some grains slipped off the edge, sprinkling down like silent rain as he hovered upward toward the rooftop. Just one inch away from the edge. As he leapt the final distance, he wobbled—arms flailing wildly as his balance faltered at the landing. For a moment, it seemed he might fall. But with a panicked breath and a sudden shift, he managed to steady himself, one hand pressed firmly to his chest as he exhaled in deep relief. At that same moment, he dashed toward Maboshi, arms flailing behind him in a nearly mocking imitation of the exaggerated run that some shinobi tend to use.

"Good grief..." he thought, heart still racing. "Could've been worse.. it'd spell the end of the show!"

 

[ZimTheInvader]

Seijūrō stood beside the group, his hands still firmly in his pockets, listening to the words of Maboshi as he replied to the question that Seijūrō had just asked him. He wasn't really shocked to find out that Maboshi didn't have any stealth-based techniques, as the boy had made it clear to them that his specialty was in the art of tracking. Seijūrō had remained calm until he watched Maboshi being caught off guard as a new arrival joined them. The tengu-masked individual introduced himself as Kuromai and had managed to give Seijūrō a little spook with his sudden appearance.

"Nice to meet you, Kuromai. As Maboshi said, my name’s Seijūrō. As for the help, I’m happy to have you on board if the others are fine with it."

Seijūrō said in a calm and relaxed manner, seemingly not too bothered with the stranger Kuromai joining them on their journey. He himself had done the same to Maboshi and Tsuno, so who was he to say anything against him coming along? Following their greeting, he noticed Maboshi heading off, and instead of following, he simply stayed put with Tsuno and Kuromai.

"So, Kuro, what’s your specialty? Taijutsu is my area of expertise."

Seijūrō, being the friendly but battle-crazed person he was, decided to ask the first question that popped into his head—and that was what area Kuromai’s specialty was. It wasn’t just idle small talk, as Seijūrō was legitimately interested in his answer. As he waited, though, he and the rest were called over by Maboshi, who had snuck off moments before. Due to this, Seijūrō had resigned himself to hearing what Kuromai had to say on their way to meet back up with Maboshi.

"Ok, we’re on our way."

​

 

[LucianRedgrave]

Kuromai’s head performed a curt nod to both Seijuro and Tsuno alike when Maboshi introduced the pair. While Tsuno wasn’t an unfamiliar face to Kuromai, Seijuro on the other hand exactly that. The former was a member of Sunagakure’s puppet brigade albeit much like himself amongst its younger members. As for Seijuro, Kuromai could respect his curiosity but he could help but lie to him all the same when he asked what exactly his specialty was. His index finger and thumb alike cradle his lower jaw as if giving the guise of thinking trying to put on the facade of thinking, moments later it would be clear to Seijuro that a thought had come to his mind in turn causing him to hold up his index finger jesting that he knew exactly what to say.

“I’m more of a jack of all trades…” In saying this he would reach behind seijuro’s ear and pull out a single coin performing what easily could have been described as simple misdirection. He was sure Tsuno would get a hint of amusement from the simple gesture but in exchange for performing such a trick he would turn his attention to Maboshi who seemed to already be on the move lifting himself onto a nearby roof with the aid of a serpent made from nothing but water. Kuromai was intrigued by the interaction overall. It wasn’t often that everyone involved in an encounter had something truly unique to offer even among the shinobi world. Had Seijuro been satisfied with the answer Kuromai provided he could find his form slinking down into a crouched position before propelling himself to the rooftops just the same as the others had done.

Kuromai wasn’t far behind the lot of them. His image almost ethereal with the grace it seemed to carry itself across the rooftops following behind the trio. He seemed to be bringing up the rear to the best of his ability, keeping an eye on things for them as Maboshi effectively led the way. Perhaps his entire m.o. Was just that keeping up on those that went unseen. Kuromai while briefly introduced to both Maboshi and Seijuro knew very little about them overall. His only foreknowledge was that of Tsuno, a fellow puppeteer who likely could see through the facade he was putting on.

 

[Erebus]

The boy hadn't bothered to look back to see if any of the others had made it up yet or were even following him. With how busy it was in the village, there was little worry of anyone down below taking notice of a group of kids running along roof tops wondering what shenanigans they were up to. Leaping from one rooftop to the next, swift little feet carried him over before propelling him into the air, the boy landing on one of many streets, his cloak flowing before coming to rest around his torso. He looks back and forth before turning around.

"Think this was the spot dad was at the last time I checked. I shou-"

"Your father certainly was here little star."

Startled, Maboshi practically leapt into the air, turning around to see the source of the voice, an old lady with her upper body sticking out of the window of the hut he just happened to be standing in front of.

"GRANNY RYŌ?!"

The boy exclaimed, voice tinged with a mixture of surprise, confusion and excitement. While the other children with him may not know, but the old lady affectionately referred to as Granny Ryō was actually the matriarch of his clan. Still, it was no question to any of them that the two were at the very least from the same clan given the more obvious similarities in their appearance. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. Instead he adjusted his scarf to cover his mouth, head shifting slightly to the side. "Oh?" She exclaimed when looking at his behavior, a feint blue glow emanating from just behind her visors.

"Your father is taking care of something on my behalf. Come in, introduce me to your new friends."

Her voice was calm and loving as she waved towards the door to the hut, practically beaming towards the other children as they each arrived. Her mouth opened once again as she had done before at Maboshi's behavior earlier.

"A shy one in the group I see. You'll have difficulty getting others to trust you if you play it too close to the vest my dear. Take it from an old lady who has seen quite a lot huehuehue."

It was clear she was talking to the boy who had introduced himself to the group as Kuromai, yet did nothing to explain exactly what she meant. Maboshi could only stare from Granny Ryō, to Kuromai then back to Granny Ryō again. It was clear she wouldn't expound any further on her words, causing him to let out a huff and a sigh, opening the door to the hut as he slumped inside.

"What's dad doing for you Granny Ryō? Does it have something to do with why everyone's so...you know! You know what's going on don't you? Tell me-I mean us! Tell us!"

Once through the threshold of the door he sped up towards the old woman, fist balled as he began bombarding her with question after question. It was almost as if he had forgotten he was in the company of others, eagerly trying to get her to tell him something, anything.

"Slow down, slow down little star haha. Didn't Ressui teach you to handle an old woman like me with care?"

She let out a hardy laugh, rubbing and patting the boy's head. She walked over to a set table, her walk the steps of an old woman. She pulled out a chair and sat down, letting out a breath. She certainly wasn't as spry as she use to be.

"Listen little star. There are things that adults have to do, and there are things that you as children have to do. Everyone has their roles to play in life, you needn't feel so anxious. Trust in your father and in the adults to fulfill their roles."

Still standing in the same spot he had been when in front of her, his head tilted down, face obscured behind both visor and scarf. His cloak covered him but from the motions it was making, it was clear he was fidgeting.

"I just want to help..."

He muttered into the scarf just under his breath. Maboshi was a quiet but capable boy, with a deep respect and love for his parents. He constantly strove to not only make them proud, but help them in every way he could. With his mom, it was a bit easier, but with his dad not so much. Sure he'd let him join him in escorts out into the desert to find the lost ones, but his other missions and jobs, he rarely talked about. No matter how much Maboshi begged him to let him come, or how much he promised he'd listen to whatever he said his dad would always say the same thing; 'When you're older'. It just wasn't fair..to him at least.

"How about you and your friends have some star cookies while you're here? Or, would you prefer my Dune cakes?"

She asked, switching the subject altogether with that warm elderly smile of hers. She turned her gaze to look at the other children one by one, her gaze lingering on each boy for several seconds before moving on to the next.

"Quite the interesting bunch indeed." She quietly remarked.

"DUNE CAKES!"

Maboshi exclaimed, rushing over to the table, his sulking temporarily traded for eagerness at the mention of the treat.

 

[Eren]

The clown continued to chase after the star like a cat fixated on a red dot, completely absorbed in the pursuit. Though the boy said nothing, his expression told an entirely different story. His eyes sparkled with amusement and excitement, his face lit with childlike wonder. In that moment, it seemed like he was truly enjoying himself—enjoying the chaos, the energy, and above all, the company of the other boys. And amidst it all, countless thoughts rolled in, one after the other—Desert Gang, Cactus Bros, Sandy Boys, Sandlot Boys, and others. Each name made him pause, consider, frown or smirk, never fully deciding. “Hmm...” he pondered, narrowing his eyes as he tracked Maboshi’s movement from the rooftop. Just as Maboshi disappeared down into one of the narrow streets, Tsuno prepared to follow. He took a running start, but misjudged the edge of the roof—his foot caught on the lip.

In an instant, his small frame tipped forward.

Those who watched from above would see the boy’s body shrink rapidly as he plummeted, accompanied by a sharp whistle and a sudden woosh. He landed face-first with a dusty thud, the dry earth puffing up around him in a settling cloud. “…Oof.” Lying there for a moment, he groaned before pushing himself up and brushing the dust off his clothes with quick, irritated motions. “Oh god... Good thing that wasn’t more than a two-story house,” he thought, still swiping at his sleeves and pants. He looked ahead, then glanced left and right, blinking through the lingering dust cloud and silently wondering if anyone had seen his fall. Embarrassment prickled at the back of his neck. That’s when he spotted Maboshi in the distance—and saw his mouth begin to form words. Tsuno heard only muffled sound at first, a fuzzy echo in his ears from the fall.

“Think this was the spot Dad was at the last time I checked. I shou—”


Tsuno squinted, trying to read Maboshi’s lips, still unsure what he was saying. But then Maboshi’s expression suddenly shifted—more alert, more serious. It was subtle, but it caused Tsuno’s brow to rise in curiosity. He turned his head to follow Maboshi’s gaze—and nearly jumped out of his skin. Standing right behind him was Maboshi’s grandmother. Tsuno’s entire body jolted as if he'd been struck by a bolt of lightning jutsu. He leapt into the air, momentarily suspended in pure shock—his limbs stiff, eyes wide, and mouth open. What followed was an audible scream—high-pitched and unmistakably terrified—the kind of raw, instinctive yell you'd expect from a child coming face-to-face with a monster hiding in the desert.

Before he even knew it, the panic had already passed. As his feet touched the ground again, reality caught up with him—and he realized it was just a granny. Just Maboshi’s grandmother. Relief washed over him like a wave. He placed a hand over his chest, right near his heart, and let out a long breath in a drawn-out "whew," his shoulders sagging as the tension drained from his body.

"Oh it's just a old granny."

As Tsuno followed the group into the hut, his eyes quietly scanned each person in the room, paying close attention to their presence and movements. Despite his youth, he carried himself with a subtle attentiveness—watchful, but never intrusive. The moment the elder began to move toward the table, Tsuno reacted instinctively. He stepped forward and gently pulled the chair out for her, a small but respectful gesture that spoke volumes. As he settled in, the slow, rhythmic conversation between the two Hokushin began to unfold. Their calm voices and familiar cadence stirred something within him—it reminded him of his grandfather. A quiet wave of nostalgia crept over him. His expression shifted, softening into a blend of sadness and wistfulness, with the faintest trace of that spoiled, boyish look he often wore when deep in thought.

I wonder what gramps is up to these days...

Then he heard the word snacks. His thoughts immediately jumped to Star Cookies and Dune Cookies—names that sparked his curiosity and made his cheeks flush with excitement. "What are those?" His expression lit up with wonder, eyes wide and sparkling. He had never heard of such treats before. Could they be something unique, something special that only Maboshi's clan produced?

The idea of secret clan delicacies made his imagination run wild.

His hand shot up instinctively, as if reaching out to grab those mysterious snacks he so desperately wanted to try.​